College Sports Madness Weighs In On MU

[Dawson Rental]

# 7 in the Big East,
# 49 overall, between Nevada # 50 and UCF # 48
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT

Like most they are skeptical that the offense won't drop off with the loss of the 3 seniors, and they still see defense as problematic.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/15123

[Jay Bee]

Doesn't say much of anything... except:

"Marquette will get back four players who played 25+ minutes per game last season, including two of their top three scorers."

Which... if by four he means two and by two he means zero, then it's accurate.
----

But, MU is a tough call this year. I do thing 7 and 49 are reasonable. Pretty big upside and downside though...

St. John's may be the wackiest projection for me this year. I'm having trouble doubting them (e.g., as a tourney team this season), but it doesn't feel right.

[wadesworld]

Doesn't say much of anything... except:

"Marquette will get back four players who played 25+ minutes per game last season, including two of their top three scorers."

Which... if by four he means two and by two he means zero, then it's accurate.
----

But, MU is a tough call this year. I do thing 7 and 49 are reasonable. Pretty big upside and downside though...

St. John's may be the wackiest projection for me this year. I'm having trouble doubting them (e.g., as a tourney team this season), but it doesn't feel right.

Top 3 scorers in terms of both total points and points/game were 1) Markus 2) JJJ 3) Rowsey.  Markus and Rowsey left, too?

[🏀]

Top 3 scorers in terms of both total points and points/game were 1) Markus 2) JJJ 3) Howard.  Markus and Howard left, too?

I don't think they left, but I think it's the same person.

[wadesworld]

I don't think they left, but I think it's the same person.

Haha good point.  Edited.

[rocket surgeon]

i love the upside.  i'll bet our opponents won't be thinking 7/49 as we are walking over their floor logo 
  just saying, not too long ago that markus dude was only 17 eyn'er?

[Herman Cain]

# 7 in the Big East,
# 49 overall, between Nevada # 50 and UCF # 48
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT

Like most they are skeptical that the offense won't drop off with the loss of the 3 seniors, and they still see defense as problematic.

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/15123

Every time I see one of these articles, it solidifies my view that we are going to be 3rd in the Big East. I think the observers are undervaluing the Big 3 of Markus, Sam and Rowsey. Our offense is going to be very strong.   There will be games where all three have 20 point or better games. We are going to get a lot of hard work and hustle from the rest of the team. We will make it to the second weekend of the tournament. 

[wadesworld]

Every time I see one of these articles, it solidifies my view that we are going to be 3rd in the Big East. I think the observers are undervaluing the Big 3 of Markus, Sam and Rowsey. Our offense is going to be very strong.   There will be games where all three have 20 point or better games. We are going to get a lot of hard work and hustle from the rest of the team. We will make it to the second weekend of the tournament.

Love it.  Set the expectations at the absolute highest possible result so that when MU plays to their abilities and is a middle of the pack BE team and makes the Tourney as a 7-10 seed you can talk about Wojo's failures and inability to motivate the squad.

[jutaw22mu]

Seems like a gross underestimation to me. 

[rocket surgeon]

Love it.  Set the expectations at the absolute highest possible result so that when MU plays to their abilities and is a middle of the pack BE team and makes the Tourney as a 7-10 seed you can talk about Wojo's failures and inability to motivate the squad.

nothing wrong with being a fan and a homer at that.  yes, we will criticize when it is due.  stomp our feet, swear,  "kick the cat"(that's a saying for those of you from rio linda ) and then get ready for the next game.  the price of being a warrior, i guess

[Galway Eagle]

I posted this in the preseason predictions thread and nobody cared 

[jesmu84]

Every time I see one of these articles, it solidifies my view that we are going to be 3rd in the Big East. I think the observers are undervaluing the Big 3 of Markus, Sam and Rowsey. Our offense is going to be very strong.   There will be games where all three have 20 point or better games. We are going to get a lot of hard work and hustle from the rest of the team. We will make it to the second weekend of the tournament.

Wait. Is our team that good that wojo could demotivate them and still finish that high?

[tower912]

I don't blame any national publication for predicting a 7th place finish.    They go off of known returnees and top 100 recruits.   We are returning 3 solid scorers.     And Haanif and Heldt.      We have a RS shooting guard who did very little as a frosh.   We all hope and assume he has improved, but we don't know.     We have a transfer who, the last time anyone saw him, was an out overweight freshman big man getting a few minutes a night for SMU.    We know he has lost a ton of weight, but we haven't seen him play.  We have 4 freshmen that are talented but who weren't considered top 100.   
   I like the talent on the team.    I think the ceiling is high.   But I think the floor is really low.   

[bilsu]

I don't blame any national publication for predicting a 7th place finish.    They go off of known returnees and top 100 recruits.   We are returning 3 solid scorers.     And Haanif and Heldt.      We have a RS shooting guard who did very little as a frosh.   We all hope and assume he has improved, but we don't know.     We have a transfer who, the last time anyone saw him, was an out of weight freshman big man getting a few minutes a night for SMU.    We know he has lost a ton of weight, but we haven't seen him play.  We have 4 freshmen that are talented but who weren't considered top 100.   
   I like the talent on the team.    I think the ceiling is high.   But I think the floor is really low.   

Total disaster, if either Markus or Rowsey has a season ending injury.

[avid1010]

HC has 2 b able 2 successfully get 2 the rim or a freshman has 2 have a unique impact 4 MU 2 b winning any NCAA games.  Will b a fun year...if we see the frosh and soph's improve we should feel good about the future.

[Herman Cain]

Total disaster, if either Markus or Rowsey has a season ending injury.

I think most teams would struggle if they lost their best player.  So we are not any different in that regard. Offsetting this injury scenario is the probability that Haanif has a strong junior year , who right now is the only MU player in a Mock draft.
http://www.nbadraft.net/2019mock_draft

[Archies Bat]

I posted this in the preseason predictions thread and nobody cared 

Did you say something?

[NotAnAlum]

I think most teams would struggle if they lost their best player.  So we are not any different in that regard. 

Both Creighton and X lost their best player last year and both still made the tourney and X made the Sweet 16 so we are a little different.   We are simply not at the level of a solid regular tourney team year in and year out but I think we are getting there.  If we would find a way to sneak in this year, have a top 15 team the following year and then regularly be looking at a top 4 finish we will be back where Buzz had us before his melt down.  The key is to be able to attract top talent when you already have upper classmen in those positions and have your guys get better every year.  If you have that kind of depth you can sustain even the lost of your top player and still have a decent season.

[brewcity77]

I think we're either really underrating our team this just or overrating them next year. I'm not sold that a fringe NCAA team will become a top-15 team simply by getting a year older and exchanging senior Rowsey for freshman Joey Hauser.

[wadesworld]

I think we're either really underrating our team this just or overrating them next year. I'm not sold that a fringe NCAA team will become a top-15 team simply by getting a year older and exchanging senior Rowsey for freshman Joey Hauser.

And Brendan Bailey.

That's typically exactly how teams not named Duke, Kentucky, and sometimes Arizona and UNC make big jumps.

[Herman Cain]

Both Creighton and X lost their best player last year and both still made the tourney and X made the Sweet 16 so we are a little different.   We are simply not at the level of a solid regular tourney team year in and year out but I think we are getting there.  If we would find a way to sneak in this year, have a top 15 team the following year and then regularly be looking at a top 4 finish we will be back where Buzz had us before his melt down.  The key is to be able to attract top talent when you already have upper classmen in those positions and have your guys get better every year.  If you have that kind of depth you can sustain even the lost of your top player and still have a decent season.

I think we have a decent amount of depth this year. The way I look at it we have 5 returning starters who have proven they can play competitively  at the Big  East Level. All 5 are capable of given us major minutes . We have two guys with D1 Experience, who have had a year to work on developing their bodies and skills.  So they should at a minimum have a comfort level of playing at the Big East level.  Then we have 4 very athletic freshman who we have luxury of working into the rotation at a comfortable pace. By the end of the year they should be able to give us quality contributions and be able to step into a bigger role if someone gets injured.  Also we have 20 Big Man fouls to give if necessary.

[Galway Eagle]

I think we're either really underrating our team this just or overrating them next year. I'm not sold that a fringe NCAA team will become a top-15 team simply by getting a year older and exchanging senior Rowsey for freshman Joey Hauser.

I have recently begun to think the same thing

[tower912]

I think we're either really underrating our team this just or overrating them next year. I'm not sold that a fringe NCAA team will become a top-15 team simply by getting a year older and exchanging senior Rowsey for freshman Joey Hauser.

Brew, the best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.    A year from now, MU will be missing Rowsey, somebody will have transferred, but Bailey, Hauser and Morrow will all be available up front.    Everybody else will be a year older/wiser/stronger.   Unless there is a mass exodus, that could be the biggest, deepest team in forever.     Especially if Wojo lands Grimes.   

[Jay Bee]

I think we're either really underrating our team this just or overrating them next year. I'm not sold that a fringe NCAA team will become a top-15 team simply by getting a year older and exchanging senior Rowsey for freshman Joey Hauser.

Morrow sitting out this year. Froling for a full year. 4 true freshmen (likely) move into their sophomore years. Joey & Bailey added (and potentially QG).

There's a lot more to it than simply Rowsey for Joey.

[bilsu]

I think most teams would struggle if they lost their best player.  So we are not any different in that regard. Offsetting this injury scenario is the probability that Haanif has a strong junior year , who right now is the only MU player in a Mock draft.
http://www.nbadraft.net/2019mock_draft

Had Wilson stayed we would of had another guard with experience who could of filled in at the 1, 2 or 3. Right now we have two three star freshmen and Anim to back up the 1, 2 & 3. Possibly Sam, if Froling, John or Eke can play the four. We have no proven player to replace Rowsey or Howard, so an injury to either would likely be extremely devasting.